The Australian Government has joined the boycott of ads on Google's YouTube online video channel.
The boycott first began in the UK some three weeks ago following a report in The Times that ads for the British government and major brands were appearing next to content that pushed extremist, racist and anti-Semitic material.
In a statement, the government said it had suspended all non-corporate advertising from YouTube.
Earlier this week, Telstra and Tourism Australia became the latest Australian companies to pull their ads from YouTube.
{loadposition sam08}The statement said the change was based on advice from the government's media agency, Dentsu Mitchell. In taking these steps, it said the government was "preventing any taxpayer funds inadvertently flowing to unsavoury organisations through the YouTube platform".
"It echoes concerns of other major advertisers around the world, including the UK Government, that automated online advertising placement programmes could inadvertently result in the Australian Government’s advertisements appearing alongside inappropriate content," the statement said.
"In taking these steps the Australian Government is also preventing any taxpayer funds inadvertently flowing to unsavoury organisations through the YouTube platform."
Special Minister of State Senator Scott Ryan said: "While the Australian Government currently works with Dentsu Mitchell to mitigate the risk of government advertising appearing alongside inappropriate material, it was decided that further steps are now required.
He said this was a preventive measure. "While advertising is being withdrawn from some websites, the Government will continue to communicate important messages to Australians using other means.
“With digital advertising a key way for the government to alert Australians about new programmes or changes to policy, the Australian Government and Dentsu Mitchell will continue to request updates from Google on the steps being taken to mitigate risks."
As iTWire reported on Monday, Vodafone Australia, Nestle, Bunnings, Foxtel and Caltex are among other local companies that have joined the boycott of Google.
Holden and Kia have also followed suit. Many big American companies were among the first to suspend advertising with Google after their ads were reported to be appearing on videos that supported racism, terrorism and broadcast anti-Semitic messages.